Future looks brighter - but hotel in Spilsby still needs you

Residents feared the worse when the lease-holders of the Grade 11 listed White Hart said they were moving on to a 'new adventure' after launching the refurbished steam punk theme hotel with its new restaurant, bar and cocktail lounge on November 1 last year.

Coupled the with announcement came reports of the discovery of a serious damp problem in one of the bars and,. in spite of the owner stepping in to keep the hotel open, notices went up displaying limited opening hours during building works.

However, business operator Rob Stark who is now running the hotel with his family, says the hotel is once again open for business - with a long-term plan for improvement subject to getting the support they need.

"We appreciate the hotel is of historic importance to local people and, at the very least, we are custodians of the what could be the oldest inn in Lincolnshire," said Mr Stark, who has run a bar in Covent Garden in London as well as several well-known ones across Lincolnshire.

The former coaching inn, situated opposite the statue of Sir John Franklin in the Market Place, dates back to the 17th century when horse-drawn carriages would often take patrons from the inn to the train station.

There is a plaque on the first floor commemorating the foundation of the Cyclists' Touring Club in 1878 as well as another showing it was once the town's post office..

The hotel had been closed for two years and had become a derelict eyesore before it was bought by Mr Stark's company. "To preserve it we have had to carry out structural works and have stripped it right back to create a traditional hotel and hostelry," explained Mr Stark.

What was a bar is now a coffee and homemade cake cafe, with a lounge area and piano to also make it welcoming for hotel staying guests.

There is a new traditional bar serving real ale to the left of the entrance, and there is a snug area with log burner, ideal for walkers and cyclists to rest.

Upstairs there are 10 en-suite budget bedrooms open for bookings, which are looking good up to Christmas.

As well as coffee and cake, lunches are being served in any of the downstairs themed areas and an evening meal menu will be launched on December 1.

"How far we go with improvements depends on support from the pub," explained Mr Stark. "Because it is Grade 11 listed we cannot embark on a modernisation plan - we are not allowed to rip out walls and make it look different.

"We would like to see it become a community-led, traditional hotel and hostelry. And that is why we are listening to what people want.

"We want people to come and tell us what they want - and then keep coming back."

To keep updated visit www.whitehartspilsby.com.